AMD Ryzen 5 7500F vs Intel Core i5-12450HX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F and Intel Core i5-12450HX are two processors that share a 12-thread count but otherwise occupy different corners of the market: the AMD part is a desktop chip built on Zen 4, while the Intel part is a mobile chip from Alder Lake. The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap, with the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F winning all 17 head-to-head tests in the database. This analysis walks through the numbers, architecture, and specifications to clarify where each processor stands.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX boosts to 4.40 GHz.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 22799 against the Intel's 11390, a 100.2% advantage.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD supports DDR5 only, while the Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel has UHD Graphics 710, while the AMD has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the launch MSRP?

A: The AMD launched at $179, the Intel at $284.

Q: Which has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD has 32 MB shared L3, the Intel has 12 MB shared.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark table is one-sided: the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F wins all 17 recorded tests, and the Intel Core i5-12450HX wins none. The largest margins come in compute-heavy workloads. In PassMark find prime numbers, the AMD scores 199 against the Intel's 54, a 268.5% delta. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 100.2% gap, with the AMD at 22799 and the Intel at 11390. Extended instructions and physics also favor the AMD heavily, with deltas of 64.7% and 64.6% respectively.

The smallest gap appears in PassMark floating point math, where the AMD scores 47176 and the Intel scores 43126, a 9.4% delta. That is the closest contest in the entire set, suggesting the Intel part is less far behind in pure floating-point throughput. Still, even that test goes to the AMD. The single-thread PassMark result shows a 15% delta, with the AMD at 3841 and the Intel at 3340, which is a moderate but clear lead.

For use-case planning, the data points to the AMD for any workload that stresses multi-core performance, encryption, compression, or integer math. The Intel's only non-benchmark advantage is its integrated UHD Graphics 710, which the AMD lacks entirely, but that is a feature difference, not a performance win in the recorded tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and foundries. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F uses Zen 4, codenamed Raphael, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i5-12450HX uses Alder Lake, codenamed Alder Lake-HX, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. The die sizes reflect this: the AMD measures 71 mm², while the Intel measures 215 mm². The AMD packs 6,570 million transistors; the Intel's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Core counts differ as well. The AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel has 8 cores and 12 threads. Both are unlocked, but the cache layouts are distinct. The AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 32 MB shared L3. The Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The AMD's larger L3 is a notable architectural difference, and the benchmark results suggest it contributes to the performance gap.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD supports DDR5 only, with a dual-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but its memory bandwidth is not recorded. ECC memory is supported on the AMD but not on the Intel. PCIe lanes differ: the AMD has Gen 5 with 24 lanes, the Intel has Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

The market segments are different: the AMD is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1964. The Intel includes integrated UHD Graphics 710; the AMD has none. Release dates also differ, with the AMD launching on 2023-07-21 and the Intel on 2022-05-09.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel has 8 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.70 GHz for the AMD and 2.40 GHz for the Intel. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz and 4.40 GHz respectively. TDP is 65 W for the AMD and 55 W for the Intel.

The socket, architecture, codename, and generation are all different: AMD Socket AM5 with Zen 4 and Raphael, versus Intel BGA 1964 with Alder Lake and Alder Lake-HX. Process node and foundry differ: 5 nm TSMC for the AMD, 10 nm Intel for the Intel. Die size is 71 mm² versus 215 mm². Transistor count is recorded for the AMD at 6,570 million, but not for the Intel.

Cache sizes differ across all levels. L1 is 64 KB per core for the AMD and 80 KB per core for the Intel. L2 is 1 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core. L3 is 32 MB shared versus 12 MB shared. Memory support is DDR5 only for the AMD, DDR4 and DDR5 for the Intel. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for the AMD, not recorded for the Intel. ECC is true for the AMD, false for the Intel. PCIe lanes are 24 for the AMD and 20 for the Intel. Integrated graphics are absent on the AMD and present as UHD Graphics 710 on the Intel. Market segment is desktop for the AMD and mobile for the Intel. Release dates are 2023-07-21 and 2022-05-09. Launch MSRP is $179 for the AMD and $284 for the Intel. Part numbers are 100-000000597 for the AMD and SRLGJ for the Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are comprehensive, with the AMD winning every test. The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD scores 199 and the Intel scores 54, a 268.5% difference. That is an extreme outlier, but the pattern holds across other workloads.

Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the AMD at 22799 and the Intel at 11390, a 100.2% delta. Cinebench R15 multi-core has the AMD at 2298 and the Intel at 1512, a 52% delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core has the AMD at 9575 and the Intel at 6304, a 51.9% delta. Single-core Cinebench results are similarly lopsided: R15 single-core is 324 versus 213, a 52.1% delta; R20 single-core is 1351 versus 889, a 52% delta; R23 single-core is 3218 versus 2119, a 51.9% delta.

PassMark tests show a range of margins. Extended instructions: 22776 versus 13832, a 64.7% delta. Physics: 1788 versus 1086, a 64.6% delta. Random string sorting: 36191 versus 23306, a 55.3% delta. Data encryption: 17510 versus 12110, a 44.6% delta. Multithread: 26825 versus 18274, a 46.8% delta. Data compression: 305925 versus 219707, a 39.2% delta. Integer math: 79108 versus 57189, a 38.3% delta. Single-thread PassMark: 3841 versus 3340, a 15% delta. Floating point math: 47176 versus 43126, a 9.4% delta, the closest result in the set.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the AMD leads by large margins in most tests, with the smallest lead in floating point math. The Intel's 8 cores do not translate into a multi-core win, as the AMD's higher clocks and larger L3 cache appear to carry the day.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is the clear performance choice. It wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with deltas ranging from 9.4% in floating point math to 268.5% in find prime numbers. The AMD also has a higher boost clock, a larger L3 cache, ECC support, and a lower launch MSRP of $179 versus the Intel's $284.

The Intel Core i5-12450HX does have its own advantages in the specification sheet: it supports both DDR4 and DDR5, includes integrated UHD Graphics 710, and has a lower TDP of 55 W. Those features matter for mobile builds where a discrete GPU is not always present, and the DDR4 support can be useful for cost-sensitive systems. However, the benchmark data does not show a single test where the Intel wins.

For a desktop user prioritizing raw performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is the processor the data supports. For a mobile user who needs integrated graphics or DDR4 compatibility, the Intel Core i5-12450HX offers those features, but the performance gap in the recorded benchmarks is substantial. The choice comes down to platform needs versus measured performance, and the measurements clearly favor the AMD.